Angular tap clamp for feed lines



1935. R. A. BECKER, sR.. AL 2,021,399

ANGULAR TAP CLAMP FOR FEED LINES Filed Jan. 28, 1953 v INVENTORS "Robert/L. Dec/rem Sr.

STc h e R ache.

Qum- A ORNEY- Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES ANGULAR TAP CLAMP FOR FEED LINES Robert A. Becker, Sr., and Stephen P. Becker, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Application January 28, 1933, Serial No. 653,956

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a feed line clamp of that class which is used in electrical installations where it is desired to tapa feed wire and secure a lead wire or wires thereto by mechanical means.

5 While there are devices for the purpose of tapping a feed wire and securing thereto a small lead wire, as I have shown in my applications for patents, as follows-Serial No. 483,494, filed, Sept. 22, 1930 issued Oct. 24, 1933 as Patent No.

10 1,932,009; Serial' No. 577,741, filed, November 28, 1931 issued Oct. 24, 1933 as Patent No. 1,932,010, and Serial No. 602,835, filed, March 29, 1932 issued Mar. 13, 1934 as Patent No. 1,950,771, none of these devices are so constructed as to be 15 adapted to heavy work, such as taking a large lead wire off of a large feed wire.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clamp for this purpose that shall be strong, durable and efiicient, contain few parts and be 20 easily attached to the wires.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this kind that shall be easily taped and covered after being installed in place.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 25 vide a clamp having a single body member and a series of clamping jaws mount-ed therein, both for holding the feed wire and the lead or leads.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof and in which like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is 35 understood that slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 shows a top plan View of the clamp.

Figure 2 shows an elevation of the feed wire end, with one of the jaws slightly open.

Figure 3 shows an elevation of the side, or lead clamping side with one jaw slightly open.

Figure 4 shows an end view of the lead clamping end.

Figure 5 shows a bottom plan View of a modified form of the clamp where two lead clamps are employed at an angle to each other and to the feed clamp, and it is tobe understood that the 50 lead clamp may be formed at any desired angle to the feed wire clamp, and that any suitable number may be employed.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, of the drawing, the device comprises a body member ID,

55 formed with the groove H for the feed wire I2,

and the groove 13 for the lead Wire 14 at right angles to the feed wire.

The body member l0, adjacent the groove I l is formed with the stationary jaw members l5 which are formed with an angular jaw edge 16 and. a lip 5 I1; and slightly to the rear of the groove H is formed the guideway It for the movable tongue IQ of the jaw members 20; said tongue I9 being provided with a threaded hole for the locking bolt 2!, which is passed through the guideway I8 and threaded into the tongue 19, for the purpose of drawing the jaws together in clamping position upon the wire.

The object of the beveled or angular edge It) is to prevent the jumping out or accidental remo-val of a small wire, should several wires be held within the same jaws, and the lip ll also tends to keep the opening between the jaw faces closed to retain the wires within.

To the rear of the feed wire clamping jaws I5 and 2D, and at an angle thereto are formed the stationary jaw members for the tap or lead wire l4, and these stationary jaws 40 are also formed with guideways 23 extending therethrough,-for the movable clamping jaws 24 which are mounted 25 therein and which are formed with the tongues 25 and the threaded hole for the clamping bolt 26. The movable jaws 20 and 24 are in fact interchangeable.

In the modified form shown in Figure 5, the device comprises the body member 30, having the stationary jaws 3! for the feed line I2, and the two angular tap line portions 33 formed with stationary jaws 34 for the lead wire l4 and both the feed line and the lead line portions are sup- 35 plied with the movable clamping jaws 36, secured in place by the clamping screws 31 and the washers 38.

The construction of the jaws in this modification being the same as in that shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, they require no further detail description.

It is understood that the lead line clamps may be of any number desired and extend at an angle from the feed line clamp portion of the device.

It will also be seen by the drawing that the shape of the device is such that after being installed, that it may be readily insulated by the usual taping.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A clamp for the purpose specified comprising a body having at least two fixed jaws thereon, and slidable jaws co-operating therewith, said jaws of the slidable jaws towards the fixed jaws to prevent displacement of relatively small 'conductors from the grooves at times when the inclined edges are in non-contacting relationship, and means carried by the body and engageable with the sliding jaws to move the latter toward the fixed jaws, and to clamp the conductors in the grooves.

ROBERT A. BECKER, SR. STEPHEN P. BECKER. 

